, 1887-01-29

'sSix hundred dollarsfr gasped poor
Stuart, his face growing whittier still. "Oh,
Mr.. Piefer!'' a
II can show YOU the receipt for the
money, II you want to see 1t, | have it
here, y tapping his breast pocket. Costly
fun you Ind, ehf'
Stuart tried to speak, but his tongue
Glove to the roof of his mouth
"You have any money, / suppose said
Mr.. PieTer.
mo, sir, not n dollar"
You must work it out, then. Are you
willing to do that
'Oh, yes, sir" cried Stuart, the color
coming back to his face. sd be glad to
do anything to pay you"
VERY well; report to me tomorrow
morning at my factory. I'll see what |
can do for you"
Mr.. Pieffer turned away, and without
another word went into the house and
closed the door.
with a feeling of profound relief Stuart
went home and told his mother all about
that piece OF costly fun, its tragic ending
and the bargain he had made.
Mr.. Picifer 1t n man to get the worth
OF the horse out of you before he lets %
CO. was Mrs. Wizards first comment,
but you did only what was right in going
straight to him with the whole story, my
son. 1t must have required u great deal
of courage, and | nm proud Of you"
Stuart was deeply touched by his
mothers praise, and the consciousness
that he deserved it made him almost happy
again, in spite of the load on his heart.
1t was n load hat grew less with every
day, for he soon became very useful in the
factory, and as he wrote a good hand and
was quick Mt figures, he was put INTO the
office and taught how to keep books and
invoice goods. In this way he learned
every detail Of the business.
1t was very hard at first, of course, for
Stuart's great fault stood in the way Of his
progress. But no one could be very lazy
where Mr.. Pieffer was, he was such an en-
ergetic, industrious man himself, and he
seemed to take n peculiar pleasure in push
Ing Stuart elong-
Stuart ascribed this at first to malice
and a desire for revenge. But he thought
different when he knew Mr.. Pieifer better,
He found out that a kind heart beat under
that rough exterior and that the old gen
tleman appreciated at their full value the
virtues of truth, sincerity and manliness.
1t was two years before the subject OF
the debt Stuart owed his employer was
mentioned between them. Then one day
Mr.. Pieffer called the young man into his
private Office.
I've been expecting for some time that
you would speak to me about that 5000
you owe me, Willard, - said he, but you
have not mentioned II. ~
IL felt sure you would tell me when |
had worked 1t out, sir, . replied Willard.
If / say | consider the debt paid now
you will be wanting to leave me, | sup
pose, - said Mr.. Pieffer-
Not il you want me to stay, sir. I
shall not 20 to school again. / am Is
years old and it is time / began to help my
mother. IN stay here if you wan me 10
do 50, sir. -
Mr.. Pieiier gave u short laugh.
That's modest, Willard, when you
know rs well as / do that | couldn't get
along without you now. The day you
came to me like the brave, honest boy you
are, and confessed that you had killed my
horse, l made up my mind that you were.
the boy needed here. 1t was worth more
than 5000 to me to find some one on whose
truth and honesty | could rely implicitly
If you will stay with me, Willard, I'll
allow you n good salary from this day for
ward and there'n be an excellent nance
of promotion To something II good deal
better.
OF course Willard stayed, and the ''some-
thing II good deal better proved to be Il
Junior partnership at the end of eight
years service.
SO you see stuart had reason 10 be
thankful that the principles OF honesty and
truth instilled into him by his widowed
mother led him to make the confession
which resulted i'll curing him forever OF
his great fault, and placing him In d
position of honor and trust.